‘Oliver’ a good bet at Goodspeed

EAST HADDAM — The previous production at The Goodspeed, “The Will Rogers Follies,” felt like a rare misfire for the revered theater. Despite a good performance from the actor playing its title character, the show sputtered on a limiting set and original book.

Expect a return to wonder and sheer entertainment in the current production, “Oliver!” — which opened in previews June 29 and runs through Sept. 8 at the lovely theater overlooking the Connecticut River.

It’s too early for a review of the show, so we won’t do that. But here are some hopeful elements on which to place your best bets for a winning evening:

⏩ Early word from preview patrons has been very

positive.

⏩ The Charles Dickens story is filled with great tunes such as the opener “Food, Glorious Food” and “Consider Yourself.”

⏩ Director is the accomplished Rob Ruggiero and choreography is by James Gray. Match these two elements expertly and you get classic musical theater, as Goodspeed regulars know.

⏩ The show about a beloved orphan named Oliver Twist, who goes from forced labor to the streets where he meets the Artful Dodger and thief-wrangler Fagin, is a hopeful story (book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart) but includes violent turns, too, earning it a PG-13 rating and a realistic balance.

⏩ Productions of “Oliver!” can be rare because of the number of children in the cast, but Goodspeed recently developed a Goodspeed Kids Company, some of whom are in this show.

⏩ Watch for Donald Corren as Fagin, who returns to Goodspeed after having previously appeared in the musical “Nöel.” His Broadway credits include “Souvenir” and “Torch Song Trilogy.” If we’re right about this bet, you’ll see an actor perfectly matched to a character.

⏩ Brandon Andrus, who was in the national tours of “Jersey Boys” and “Oklahoma!” and on TV in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Madam Secretary,” plays the villainous Bill Sikes.

⏩ Oliver Twist is played by Elijah Rayman, who has been in productions since he was 5.

⏩ Music direction is by veteran Michael O’Flaherty, part of a deep behindthe-scenes crew at Goodspeed.

Courtesy of Goodspeed Gavin Swartz as the Artful Dodger and Elijah Rayman as Oliver in Goodspeed Musicals’ production of “Oliver!”